首页 >出版文学> TheTenant of Wildfell Hall>第25章
  `Heisagoodman,MrHuntingdon。IwishIcouldsayhalfasmuchforyou。’
  `Oh,Iforgot,youareasaint,too。Icraveyourpardon,dearest——butdon’tcallmeMrHuntingdon,mynameisArthur。’
  `I’llcallyounothing——forI’llhavenothingatalltodowithyou,ifyoutalkinthatwayanymore。Ifyoureallymeantodeceivemyauntasyousay,youareverywicked;andifnot,youareverywrongtojestonsuchasubject。’
  `Istandcorrected,’saidhe,concludinghislaughwithasorrowfulsigh。`Now,’resumedhe,afteramomentarypause,`letustalkaboutsomethingelse。Andcomenearertome,Helen,andtakemyarm;andthenI’llletyoualone。Ican’tbequietwhileIseeyouwalkingthere。’
  Icomplied;butsaidwemustsoonreturntothehouse。
  `Noonewillbedowntobreakfastyet,forlongenough,’heanswered。
  `Youspokeofyourguardiansjustnow,Helen;butisnotyourfatherstillliving?’
  `Yes,butIalwayslookuponmyuncleandauntasmyguardians,fortheyareso,indeed,thoughnotinname,Myfatherhasentirelygivenmeuptotheircare。IhaveneverseenhimsincedearmammadiedwhenI
  wasaverylittlegirl,andmyaunt,atherrequest,offeredtotakechargeofme,andtookmeawaytoStaningley,whereIhaveremainedeversince;
  andIdon’tthinkhewouldobjecttoanythingforme,thatshethoughtpropertosanction。’
  `Butwouldhesanctionanythingtowhichshethoughtpropertoobject?’
  `No,Idon’tthinkhecaresenoughaboutme。’
  `Heisverymuchtoblame——buthedoesn’tknowwhatanangelhehasforhisdaughter——whichallthebetterforme,as,ifhedid,hewouldnotbewillingtopartwithsuchatreasure。’
  `AndMrHuntingdon,’saidI,`IsupposeyouknowIamnotanheiress?’
  Heprotestedhehadnevergivenitathought,andbeggedIwouldnotdisturbhispresentenjoymentbythementionofsuchuninterestingsubjects,Iwasgladofthisproofofdisinterestedaffection;forAnnabellaWilmotistheprobableheiresstoallheruncle’swealth,inadditiontoherlatefather’sproperty,whichshehasalreadyinpossession。
  Inowinsisteduponretracingourstepstothehouse;butwewalkedslowly,andwentontalkingasweproceeded。Ineednotrepeatallwesaid:
  letmeratherrefertowhatpassedbetweenmyauntandme,afterbreakfast,whenMrHuntingdoncalledmyuncleaside,nodoubttomakehisproposals,andshebeckonedmeintoanotherroom,wheresheoncemorecommencedasolemnremonstrancewhich,however,entirelyfailedtoconvincemethatherviewofthecasewaspreferabletomyown。
  `Youjudgehimuncharitably,aunt,Iknow,’saidI。`Hisveryfriendsarenothalfsobadasyourepresentthem。ThereisWalterHargrave,Milicent’sbrother,forone:heisbutalittlelowerthantheangels,ifhalfshesaysofhimistrue。Sheiscontinuallytalkingtomeabouthim,andlaudinghismanyvirtuestotheskies。’
  `Youwillformaveryinadequateestimateofaman’scharacter,’
  repliedshe,`ifyoujudgebywhatafondsistersaysofhim。Theworstofthemgenerallyknowhowtohidetheirmisdeedsfromtheirsister’seyes,andtheirmother’stoo。’
  `AndthereisLordLowborough,’continuedI,`quiteadecentman。’
  `Whotoldyouso?LordLowboroughisadesperateman。Hehasdissipatedhisfortuneingamblingandotherthings,andisnowseekinganheiresstoretrieveit。ItoldMissWilmotso;butyou’reallalike:
  shehaughtilyansweredshewasverymuchobligedtome,butshebelievedsheknewwhenamanwasseekingherforherfortune,andwhenforherself;
  sheflatteredherselfshehadhadexperienceenoughinthosematterstobejustifiedintrustingtoherownjudgment——andasforhislordship’slackoffortune,shecarednothingaboutthat,asshehopedherownwouldsufficeforboth;andasforhiswildness,shesupposedhewasnoworsethanothers——besideshewasreformednow——Yes,theycanallplaythehypocritewhentheywanttotakeinafond,misguidedwoman!’
  `Well,Ithinkhe’saboutasgoodassheis,’saidI。ButwhenMrHuntingdonismarried,hewon’thavemanyopportunitiesofconsortingwithhisbachelorfriends;——andtheworsetheyare,themoreIlongtodeliverhimfromthem。’
  `Tobesure,mydear;andtheworseheis,Isuppose,themoreyoulongtodeliverhimfromhimself。’
  `Yes,providedheisnotincorrigible——thatis,themoreIlongtodeliverhimfromhisfaults——togivehimanopportunityofshakingofftheadventitiousevilgotfromcontactwithothersworsethanhimself,andshiningoutintheuncloudedlightofhisowngenuinegoodness——todomyutmosttohelphisbetterselfagainsthisworse,andmakehimwhathewouldhavebeenifhehadnot,fromthebeginning,hadabad,selfish,miserlyfather,who,togratifyhisownsordidpassions,restrictedhiminthemostinnocentenjoymentsofchildhoodandyouth,andsodisgustedhimwitheverykindofrestraint;——andafoolishmotherwhoindulgedhimtothetopofhisbent,deceivingherhusbandforhim,anddoingherutmosttoencouragethosegermsoffollyandviceitwasherdutytosuppress,——andthen,suchasetofcompanionsasyourepresenthisfriendstobe——’
  `Poorman!’saidshe,sarcastically,`hiskindhavegreatlywrongedhim!’
  `Theyhave!’criedI——`andtheyshallwronghimnomore——wifeshallundowhathismotherdid!’
  `Well!’saidshe,afterashortpause。“Imustsay,Helen,Ithoughtbetterofyourjudgmentthanthis——andyourtastetoo。HowyoucanlovesuchamanIcannottell,orwhatpleasureyoucanfindinhiscompany:
  for“Whatfellowshiphathlightwithdarkness?orhethatbelievethwithaninfidel?”’
  `Heisnotaninfidel;——andIamnotlight,andheisnotdarkness,hisworstandonlyviceisthoughtlessness。’
  `Andthoughtlessness,’pursuedmyaunt,mayleadtoeverycrime,andwillbutpoorlyexcuseourerrorsinthesightofGod。MrHuntingdon,Isuppose,isnotwithoutthecommonfacultiesofmen:heisnotsolightheadedastobeirresponsible:hisMakerhasendowedhimwithreasonandconscienceaswellastherestofus;theScripturesareopentohimaswellastoothers;——and“Ifhehearnotthem,neitherwillhehearthoughonerosefromthedead。”And,remember,Helen,’continuedshe,solemnly,`“Thewickedshallbeturnedintohell,andtheythatforgetGod“!’Andsuppose,even,thatheshouldcontinuetoloveyou,andyouhim,andthatyoushouldpassthroughlifetogetherwithtolerablecomfort,——howwillitbeintheend,whenyouseeyourselvespartedforever:you,perhaps,takenintoeternalbliss,andhecastintothelakethatburnethwithunquenchablefire——thereforeverto——’
  `Notforever,’Iexclaimed,`“onlytillhehaspaidtheuttermostfarthing“;for“Ifanyman’sworkabidenotthefire,heshallsufferloss,yethimselfshallbesaved,butsoasbyfire。”andHethat“isabletosubdueallthingstoHimself,willhaveallmentobesaved。”and“willinthefulnessoftime,gathertogetherinoneallthingsinChristJesus,whotasteddeathforeveryman,andinwhomGodwillreconcileallthingstoHimself,whethertheybethingsinearthorthingsinheaven。”’
  `Oh,Helen!wheredidyoulearnallthis?’
  `IntheBible,aunt。Ihavesearcheditthrough,andfoundnearlythirtypassages,alltendingtosupportthesametheory。’
  `AndisthattheuseyoumakeofyourBible?Anddidyoufindnopassagestendingtoprovethedangerandthefalsityofsuchabelief?’
  `No:Ifound,indeed,somepassagesthat,takenbythemselves,mightseemtocontradictthatopinion;buttheywillallbearadifferentconstructiontothatwhichiscommonlygiven,andinmosttheonlydifficultyisinthewordwhichwetranslate“everlasting“or“eternal“:Idon’tknowtheGreek,butIbelieveitstrictlymeans“forages。”andmightsignifyeither“endless“or“long-enduring。”Andasforthedangerofthebelief,Iwouldnotpublishitabroad,ifIthoughtanypoorwretchwouldbelikelytopresumeuponittohisowndestruction,butitisagloriousthoughttocherishinone’sownheart,andIwouldnotpartwithitforalltheworldcangive!’
  Hereourconferenceended,foritwasnowhightimetoprepareforchurch。Everyoneattendedthemorningservice,exceptmyuncle,whohardlyevergoes,andMrWilmot,whostayedathomewithhimtoenjoyaquietgameofcribbage。IntheafternoonMissWilmotandLordLowboroughlikewiseexcusedthemselvesfromattending;butMrHuntingdonvouchsafedtoaccompanyusagain。WhetheritwastoingratiatehimselfwithmyauntIcannottell,but,ifso,hecertainlyshouldhavebehavedbetter。Imustconfess,Ididnotlikehisconductduringserviceatall。Holdinghisprayer-bookupsidedown,oropenatanyplacebuttheright,hedidnothingbutstareabouthim,unlesshehappenedtocatchmyaunt’seyeormine,andthenhewoulddrophisownonhisbook,withapuritanicalairofmocksolemnitythatwouldhavebeenludicrous,ifithadnotbeentooprovoking。
  Once,duringthesermon,afterattentivelyregardingMrLeightonforafewminutes,hesuddenlyproducedhisgoldpencilcaseandsnatchedupaBible。PerceivingthatIobservedthemovement,hewhisperedhewasgoingtomakeanoteofthesermon;butinsteadofthat——asIsatnexthim——I
  couldnothelpseeingthathewasmakingacaricatureofthepreacher,givingtotherespectable,pious,elderlygentleman,theairandaspectofamostabsurdoldhypocrite。Andyet,uponhisreturn,hetalkedtomyauntaboutthesermonwithadegreeofmodest,seriousdiscriminationthattemptedmetobelievehehadreallyattendedandprofitedbythediscourse。
  Justbeforedinnermyunclecalledmeintothelibraryforthediscussionofaveryimportantmatter,whichwasdismissedinfewwords。
  `Now,Nell,’saidhe,`thisyoungHuntingdonhasbeenaskingforyou:whatmustIsayaboutit?Yourauntwouldanswer“No“——butwhatsayyou?’
  `Isayyes,uncle,’repliedI,withoutamoment’shesitation;
  forIhadthoroughlymadeupmymindonthesubject。
  `Verygood!’criedhe。`Nowthat’sagoodhonestanswer——wonderfulforagirl!——Well,I’llwritetoyourfathertomorrow,He’ssuretogivehisconsent;soyoumaylookonthematterassettled。You’dhavedoneadealbetterifyou’dtakenWilmot,Icantellyou;butthatyouwon’tbelieve。Atyourtimeoflife,it’slovethatrulestheroast:atmine,it’ssolid,serviceablegold。Isupposenow,you’dneverdreamoflookingintothestateofyourhusband’sfinances,ortroublingyourheadaboutsettlements,oranythingofthatsort?’
  `Idon’tthinkIshould。’
  `Well,bethankful,then,thatyou’vewiserheadstothinkforyou。Ihaven’thadtime,yet,toexaminethoroughlyintothisyoungrascal’saffairs,butIseethatagreatpartofhisfather’sfinepropertyhasbeensquanderedaway;——butstill,Ithinkthere’saprettyfairshareofitleft,andalittlecarefulnursingmaymakeahandsomethingofityet;
  andthenwemustpersuadeyourfathertogiveyouadecentfortune,ashehasonlyonebesidesyourselftocarefor;——and,ifyoubehavewell,whoknowsbutwhatImaybeinducedtorememberyouinmywill?’continuedbe,puttinghisfingertohisnose,withaknowingwink。
  `Thanksuncle,forthatandallyourkindness,’repliedI。
  `Well,andIquestionedthisyoungsparkonthematterofsettlements,’
  continuedhe;andheseemeddisposedtobegenerousenoughonthatpoint——’
  `Iknewhewould!’saidI。`Butpraydon’ttroubleyourhead——orhis,ormineaboutthat;forallIhavewillbehis,andallhehaswillbemine;andwhatmorecouldeitherofusrequire?’AndIwasabouttomakemyexit,buthecalledmeback。
  `Stop,stop!’criedhe——`Wehaven’tmentionedthetimeyet。Whenmustitbe?YourauntwouldputitofftilltheLordknowswhen,butheisanxioustobeboundassoonasmaybe:he`won’thearofwaitingbeyondnextmonth;andyou,Iguess,willbeofthesamemind,so——’
  `Notatall,uncle;onthecontrary,IshouldliketowaittillafterChristmas,atleast。’
  `Oh!pooh,pooh!nevertellmethattale——Iknowbetter,’criedhe;andhepersistedinhisincredulity。Nevertheless,itisquitetrue。
  Iaminnohurryatall。HowcanIbe,whenIthinkofthemomentouschangethatawaitsme,andofallIhavetoleave?Itishappinessenough,toknowthatwearetobeunited;andthathereallylovesme,andImaylovehimasdevotedly,andthinkofhimasoftenasIplease。
  However,Iinsisteduponconsultingmyauntaboutthetimeofthewedding,forIdeterminedhercounselsshouldnotbeutterlydisregarded;
  andnoconclusionsonthatparticulararecometoyet。
  TheTenantofWildfellHall:Chapter21CHAPTER21OpinionsOCTOBER1st——Allissettlednow。Myfatherhasgivenhisconsent,andthetimeisfixedforChristmas,byasortofcompromisebetweentherespectiveadvocatesforhurryanddelay。MilicentHargraveistobeonebridesmaid,andAnnabellaWilmottheother——notthatIamparticularlyfondofthelatter,butsheisanintimateofthefamily,andIhavenotanotherfriend。
  WhenItoldMilicentofmyengagement,sheratherprovokedmebyhermanneroftakingit。AlterstaringamomentInmutesurprise,shesaid——
  `Well,Helen,IsupposeIoughttocongratulateyou——andIamgladtoseeyousohappy;butIdidnotthinkyouwouldtakehim;andI
  can’thelpfeelingsurprisedthatyoushouldlikehimsomuch。’
  `Whyso?’